We walked the Ashton canal from Portland Basin to Manchester on Sunday. Pretty quiet really, the highlight being a flock of 10+ long-tailed tits and blue tits not far from MCFC. Also a pied or grey wagtail but it flew away before I could get a decent look. Plus what we think was the caterpillar of an elephant hawk moth.

On my way home tonight, even though it was raining, I stopped as usual to look for the Dipper from Dukinfield bridge. I couldn't immediately see a Dipper, but something else caught my eye. There was a Kingfisher directly below and to the left of me perched on a couple of rocks. I stood there staring mesmerised by the bird, whilst trying to control my wantaway brolly. Even though the bird must have been aware of my presence it continued to sit there as if it was waiting for the rest of the audience! After the best part of 10 minutes it decided to catch a small fish and landed on a different rock, manoeuvring what looked like a very small fish to a position where it could swallow it. I watched until it managed to swallow it completely, whereupon it took off and started hovering right in front of me. It again landed on the rocks and after a few seconds it left flying down river. and I didn't even get my bins out of my bag.

As I watched the one on the crate, I heard someone shout boo, I turned round and saw a teenage scumbag on a bike, I think I gave him a shock though when I took off after him, nearly catching him until he accelerated away

Oh the joys of birding in "Greater" Manchester. Greater than what exactly???

I started off the morning with a Cormorant flying over the back garden circling round towards the river heading roughly towards Stalybridge. This was an immature bird.

On the way to work as I looked at four grotty Mallards from the bridge, a Kingfisher flew up river, calling a couple of times.

I watched around 200 Starlings from the office window during the morning, keeping an eye open for a raptor (optimistic!)

Then at lunchtime I went to try and get 10 species in Ashton town centre, falling short with 8, although I did see a ninth from the office window, a fun twist on lunchtimes! My favourite was a Goldfinch trying to satisfy two squabbling youngsters.

On the way home two Dippers were showing from Dukinfield bridge before flying a little further up, one perching a crate and preening and the other on a line of rocks, visible from one side, but not the other.

As I watched the one on the crate, I heard someone shout boo, I turned round and saw a teenage scumbag on a bike, I think I gave him a shock though when I took off after him, nearly catching him until he accelerated away

I decided to risk the chance of a good soaking tonight and walk along the river.

It was a good start as I walked past Asda and saw a Sparrowhawk drift over from Ashton into Dukinfield.

I made my way to the river path (avoiding the piles of dog dirt) and was immediately treated to the sight of two Dippers. Our Dippers aren't as tame as some of the ones around and these two birds moved slowly out of my sight and as there is no path along the river past this point I reluctantly left them, but not before a Kingfisher flew past me up river. I carried on and saw the brownest Grey Wagtail I have ever seen I also saw what was probably the same Kingfisher as previously in this area. I saw nothing else until I got to the road and crossed to look over the river on the other side. As I walked up I saw two Herons, one an adult, the other one of this year's birds, and there was also a young Moorhen showing well.

While I was watching this a third Dipper flew onto the rocks below me this one coming from up river and a Kingfisher flew up river, perhaps the same one as previously seen on the lower stretch. The Dipper then also flew off, back up river.

I didn't see the Black Redstarts today, but there is always something to look at if you keep your eyes open!

A mixed flock of 50+ hirundines (Sand and House Martins) over the Whitelands Road railway bridge.

A look over Dukinfield bridge produced a Dipper, which did good impressions on several occasions of a drowning Dipper. This looked like one of this year's birds. I was that engrossed with the Dipper that I don't know how long a Kingfisher had been there, but when I realised it was there I was able to get both in one binocular view at the same time. The Kingfisher caught a fish and flew into a sycamore and the Dipper carried on trying to drown itself!

Oh and there seems to be a good population of House Sparrows in Ashton Town Centre.

Also seen this week around Tulip Foods a returning Lesser Black Backed Gull and one of this year's Black Headed Gulls.

On my way home tonight a mixed flock of 100+ Swifts and hirundines on the Dukinfield/Ashton border near Whitelands Road railway bridge. At least 50 of these were Swifts which is the highest number I've seen in the area this summer, shame they'll be gone soon

At least 10 Sand Martins seen from bridge on Dukinfield/ Ashton border, looks like breeding success in the area! Also whilst watching these a Kingfisher flew out of water towards me with a fish. Unfortunately landed out of view.

On way to work between Dukinfield and Ashton2 Blackcap, 1 singing on each side of road by river1 Dipper, looked to be feedingWillow Warbler, first of the year for this area, between railway and Ashton bypass, singing briefly

Went to my tetrad SJ9899 Brushes for the first time yesterday. I recorded some great birds up there including Green Woodpecker, a Tameside tick for me. Six Lesser Redpoll, also a Tameside tick. My first Willow Warbler of the year also put in an appearance. Two male Pheasants had a fight right in front of me, not realising I was there and six Linnets flew over me.

Male Grey WagtailPair Goosander, which have been around the last couple of weeks in the same area.Dipper flew up river towards Stalybridge callingPair of Mallard and two surplus drakes2 pairs of Magpies nest building at separate sites4 Wrens at least7 Robins, seen and heard3 Long Tailed TitsSong Thrush and Dunnock singingAlso good numbers of Great Tits and Goldfinches singing plus Greenfinches and Blackbirds

1 drake Goosander in DukinfieldFemale Grey Wagtail in her usual spot1 Dipper flew down river on Dukinfield side, couldn't find it where I expected it to be, near Asda3 Bullfinches (1 male, 2 female) near AsdaLots of birdsong

Pm

Pair of Bullfinches in garden, then walked to Portland Basin where I had another Bullfinch and at least 18 Canada Geese and on the way back 3 Goosander, the drake probably being the one from the morning.

As I was leaving the office today in Ashton town centre, there was a Sparrowhawk being mobbed by about 20 feral pigeons.

There were also about 40 Pied Wagtails coming in. I don't know where they went though, because when I left work at about 4.40 there were only about 10 at the roost site, although each building in the vicinity seemed to have at least one perched on top of it!

Dipper again on the river in Dukinfield first thing this morning, showed extremely well opposite Riverbank pub. Unfortunately owing to being on way to work, didn't have bins with me, so cannot confirm whether a ringed bird or not.

Took advantage of a rare weekday off work to check if anything was about.

No Goosanders around, probably gone back onto reservoirs, but increased numbers of passerines, I'm sure they've been somewhere warmer until the frost disappeared.

3 Bullfinches in garden, 2 males and a female, garden year tick

Female Grey Wagtail on river near Asda, they normally seem to spend winter away from the river, so perhaps this is a returning breeding bird?

Also noteworthy for the area, when returning from Talbot Road were two Rooks, they are actually uncommon around in this part of Tameside. In fact this is the first time in 30 years birding I recall seeing Rook in Dukinfield.

if you see any colour rings on Dippers can you post details on this forum or send a message to Tony Wilkinson? Tony & Co. have been ringing lots of Dippers upstream from Stalybridge for the last two years. They often disperse downstream in the winter but there doesn't seem to have been much evidence of this happening this year.

Nice to hear that someone is keeping an eye on Stalybridge/Ashton. Dippers are early breeders and from another posting it looks as if they are warming up for action in 2009! If you are down there regularly keep an eye open for birds carrying moss; the nests are easy to spot.

6 Goosander including 5 drakes between Dukinfield and Stalybridgepr G S Woodpeckers in valleypr Dipper Bayley Street, Stalybridge near tip from small bridge 5+ Heron on river between Dukinfield and Stalybridge

Pm towards Ashton7 Goosander including 4 drakes. Another three then flew down river including another 2 drakes1 Kingfisher flew into tree, perched briefly and then flew up river At least 50 gulls around Dalehead Foods including at least four Common Gulls, 7 Lesser Black Backs and the rest Black Headed.